The Shasta Equal Justice Coalition (SEJC) had been recently focused on the murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, We commend the Memphis PD for their fast reaction to the killing of Tyre Nichols by firing, arresting and charging the 5 police officers who killed Mr. Nichols. This sets a precedent in providing information and justice fast, and helps build trust between law enforcement and the community.
We have been very troubled by the recent emergence of a video of the arrest that occurred here in Redding on January 23rd- the arrest of a community member that included an officer forcefully stepping on his head.
At this point, the two pieces of information available are the video taken by a member of the public and a press release from the police chief after the emergence of the video. It appears that the press release was issued from RPD in response to the video. More information is needed for the public to fully understand if the nature of the police response, aside from the forceful head stomping, was justified or unlawful.
The incident illustrates the need for local law enforcement to fully implement the use of body cams so that such incidents and subsequent police actions can be appropriately examined and understood. Such information is critical to improving trust between residents and law enforcement, a central element of public safety.
We know that the Redding Police Department is in the process of implementing body cams. Chief Schueller has stated that a pilot will be underway soon with a formal launch scheduled for July 2023 when City Council funding for the project is available. This is a positive step, and we call on other Shasta County law enforcement agencies to follow suit.
We encourage all community residents to continue to monitor the outcome of this investigation and further responses by law enforcement leaders. We call on community leaders and elected officials for transparency about the details of the investigation, including the names of the officers involved, and appropriate responses to what is learned. We call on the RPD to move as quickly as possible on fully implementing the policy of law enforcement officers wearing and operating body cams while on duty.
The Shasta Equal Justice Coalition (SEJC) represents a committed network of organizations and individuals working for fair and equal justice within the criminal justice system for all residents of Shasta County, regardless of their identities, backgrounds, or circumstances.
